Those redbugs drove us crazy

Wednesday

Aug 16, 2006 at 12:01 AMAug 16, 2006 at 11:18 AM

By IRENE C. MICHEL For The Courier

Last week I wrote about killing a "roach" that turned out to be not a roach but part of the paper wrapping from a child’s crayon. There was also a separate article about bedbugs in the newspaper last week.

With those two things to jog my memory, I was reminded of when I was young how much we suffered from redbugs. We itched like crazy! I don’t remember what Mama put on the bites to stop the itching, but I’m sure she must have had some kind of remedy. We’d find the little things on our skin and it seemed they stuck like glue. They were mean little critters.

With today’s modern technology I decided to go online and see if I could scrape up some information about redbugs. I was sure they’d tell me I had misspelled the word and I’d be asked (in print, of course) if I meant "bedbugs." But that didn’t happen. I came up with several articles that I printed out so I could have more information on those pesky little devils.

When I was a kid I actually thought redbugs were really bugs. But they’re not. They’re called chiggers, and are known as redbugs because of their color. They are not insects; they’re larvae, an immature stage of the harvest mite. It’s only when it’s in a larvae stage that they bite humans. What I don’t understand is why they’re called "redbugs" because they can be orange, yellow or straw-colored. Well, I only saw red ones! And when they bit the skin, they bit hard. In one of the articles I read from my computer search, it said that chiggers hatch five to seven days after the female mite lays her eggs. Then those little rascals wait for a "suitable host." Now, why did they have to choose me so often?

I couldn’t believe it when I read that those tiny things -- they’re only about 1/128th of an inch long -- have six legs. No wonder they could latch on to us and never let go. When they’re feeding on their human prey the intense itch can last several days.

Concerning treatment for the intense itching, I noticed that the author of the article said something like this: "If you are attacked by chiggers" the best thing to do is take a bath using a thick lathering of soap and water, rinse and repeat. Need I say that water was scarce in those days. I’m sure we only put water on the welts caused by the redbugs (chiggers). When that writer used the word "attacked" he was right on the money. It was war, and the human prey was the loser. Another sentence said that further treatment may be needed and suggested antibiotics. Surprise, surprise! There were no antibiotics when I was young. I mostly remember scratching and crying.

To repel and control chigger bites, the author recommended spraying exposed skin with insect repellent. Guess what? I don’t think we had that when we were young, either.

I wonder, whatever happened to redbugs? I don’t hear of them these days. Maybe I should just let well enough alone. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I’m not bothered with them any more.

Oh, I bet I know. Most people take showers or baths every day now, so we wash off the bratty little things before they can take their first bite. Could that be it?

Irene C. Michel, a native of Terrebonne Parish, is a freelance columnist for The Courier. Her column appears in Wednesday and Sunday editions of The Courier and in Senior Living. If you have a story you would like to share with her, you can call her at 876-3252.

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